Welcome to all our GBL members for another exciting season of GBL baseball. It must be the start of a new baseball season – the rain is tumbling down!
The 2018/2019 season looks to be a cracker with a reduction of teams competing in Division 1 from 10 teams last season to 8 teams this season with both Toowoomba Rangers and Western Districts electing to compete in Division 3.
This will make the Division 1 competition a very close affair with all teams last season being very competitive. Clubs have taken advantage of overseas players showing more and more interest in playing in Australia and the import players will also lift the standard of play to a new level.
The Division 3 competition will be a lot stronger with Toowoomba Rangers and Western Districts competing hard with a view to improve so that they might have a chance of climbing back to Division 1 in the next few seasons. Narangba too were close to playing in Division 1 so the Division 3 competition will be hard fought. The Baseball Queensland Development team is also playing in this Division – this concept was a great learning ground for the best young players in Queensland and again the team will compete strongly.
The competition has expanded to now include a Division 6 which will mean Division 4, 5 & 6 should be more even competitions across the board.
A number of grounds and fields have been or are being upgraded including Beenleigh, Coomera, Eagles and All Stars Field 2 at Bannister Park. Clubs are doing an excellent job on improving their facilities each season.
Good luck to all Clubs, teams and players and may the games be tough and fair.
Rodney Gaunt
Chairmen of the GBL committee